Over the years, I’ve had more than a few calls that started like this:

“Mike… I don’t know what to do. Dad’s in the hospital. He’s unconscious. We don’t know where anything is. Can you help?”

Sometimes I’ve met the family before. Sometimes I haven’t. But in that moment — when someone’s loved one is critically ill or injured — the only thing that matters is whether a plan was put in place while they still could.

When there’s no clear plan? The lawyer becomes the emergency contact.

Not because that’s how it was supposed to go, but because no one else knows what to do.

The Calls I’ll Never Forget

  • A daughter who hadn’t spoken to her father in ten years — until she got a call from the hospital. Now she was expected to make medical decisions… but had no legal authority.
  • A wife trying to access her husband’s IRA after his stroke, only to discover she wasn’t listed on the account — and had no power of attorney.
  • Three siblings arguing in the ICU waiting room over who should “handle things,” because their mother never made it clear.

I’ve sat with families as they cried. As they second-guessed. As they argued. As they asked, “What would they have wanted?”

And I’ve also seen the opposite — the calm, the confidence, the relief — when someone planned ahead.

You Don’t Think About These Moments… Until You’re In Them

No one wants to imagine their spouse, parent, or partner unable to speak for themselves. No one likes thinking about death, incapacity, or decline.

So they avoid it.

But here’s the truth: Life doesn’t wait until you’re ready. And emergency rooms don’t take verbal instructions.

When something happens — a fall, a stroke, a diagnosis — there’s no time to “get everything in order.” You either have a plan, or you don’t.

Here’s What Happens When There’s No Plan in Place

  • Your spouse or adult children may not have access to financial accounts — even to pay for medical care.
  • Your family may have to go through court proceedings just to gain legal authority to act on your behalf (called conservatorship or guardianship).
  • Doctors and hospitals may make decisions that go against your values or wishes — simply because no one had the legal right to say otherwise.
  • Your family is left navigating a maze of forms, red tape, and guesswork — all while grieving or under extreme stress.

And all of it could have been avoided.

The Peace That Comes From a Real Plan

When I work with clients at Bascom Law, we create more than documents — we create clarity.

  • We name decision-makers ahead of time
  • We prepare Powers of Attorney and Health Care Directives.
  • We use Trusts to eliminate court delays and make transitions smooth
  • We organize everything in one place so your loved ones never have to wonder where anything is

And most importantly: we make sure everyone knows the plan. Because if your family doesn’t know who to call, what to do, or where to find things — your planning failed, no matter how thick your binder is.

The Best Estate Plans Aren’t Just About Death — They’re About Emergencies

Some people think estate planning is only about “what happens when I die.”

But honestly?

The most urgent part of planning is what happens if you don’t die… but you can’t act.

Who pays the bills?
Who makes the decisions?
Who knows your passwords, your bank accounts, your doctors, your preferences?

If your answer is “I’m not sure,” that’s your sign.

Don’t Make Your Family Figure It Out Alone

When the unthinkable happens, your family won’t need more questions — they’ll need answers.

Call my office today. Let’s make sure you decide who’s in charge — not a court, not a hospital, and not your lawyer scrambling to help in a crisis.

When the plan is solid, I don’t need to be your emergency contact. But when things go wrong — and they do — you’ll be glad I’m just a phone call away.

 

Sincerely and Thanks,

 

Mike

 

Mike Bascom
Bascom Law, PC
770-285-5493